Question 167·Medium·Transitions
Coral bleaching can devastate marine ecosystems. Rising sea temperatures stress corals and cause them to expel the symbiotic algae that give them color. ______ conservationists warn that without immediate reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions, many reefs could disappear within decades.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
For SAT transition questions, always read at least one sentence before and after the blank, then decide what kind of relationship connects them: cause-and-effect, contrast, example, addition, or comparison. Once you’ve labeled the relationship in your own words (e.g., “this is a result of that” or “this goes against that”), quickly classify each answer choice by its usual function and eliminate those whose meaning (contrast, example, similarity, etc.) doesn’t match. Only then plug the remaining option into the sentence to confirm it sounds logical and smooth.
Hints
Look at how the ideas progress
Read the second and third sentences together. Think about whether the third sentence is opposing, explaining, giving an example of, or responding to the information in the second sentence.
Classify the type of connection
Ask: Is the warning in the third sentence surprising compared to what came before, or is it something that naturally follows from the description of coral bleaching?
Match each option to a relationship type
Without plugging them into the sentence yet, quickly recall what each option usually does: which one shows contrast, which one gives an example, which one shows similarity, and which one shows a consequence. Then pick the one that matches the relationship you identified.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what each sentence is doing
Read the three sentences in order:
- Sentence 1: States a serious problem: Coral bleaching can devastate marine ecosystems.
- Sentence 2: Explains the cause: rising sea temperatures stress corals and make them expel algae.
- Sentence 3: Says that conservationists warn reefs could disappear without cutting emissions.
The third sentence is clearly a reaction or response to the information in the first two sentences.
Decide the logical relationship between sentence 2 and sentence 3
Ask yourself: How does the warning in sentence 3 relate to the problem and cause in sentences 1 and 2?
The progression is:
- Problem and cause are described (bleaching caused by higher temperatures).
- Because of this situation, experts (conservationists) issue a warning about the future of reefs.
This is a cause-and-effect or reason-to-warning relationship, not a contrast, example, or comparison.
Match the relationship to the best transition choice
Now check each option’s typical use:
- A) A phrase that shows a consequence or outcome
- B) A phrase that introduces a contrast
- C) A phrase that introduces an example
- D) A phrase that shows similarity or comparison
Since sentence 3 is a warning that follows from the problem described earlier, we need a transition that signals a result. Only “As a result,” fits that cause-and-effect relationship, so A is correct.